The best toys for 4-month-olds — such as soft toy blocks, rattles and baby-safe mirrors — support major milestones like tummy time and rolling to their backs, experts say.
Around the 4-month mark, many parents — myself included! — feel like they’ve entered a new stage of babyhood. No longer in the fourth trimester, many little ones are sleeping for longer stretches at a time and rewarding you with big smiles. When each of my two sons hit this stage, I realized we needed more toys to keep them engaged and entertained during playtime. But not any old product would do — I was determined to invest in the best toys for 4-year-olds that would support upcoming developmental milestones, such as rolling over.
Experts say that many of the best toys for 4-month-olds not only help little ones strengthen newfound skills but also engage the senses. “As [4-month-olds] continue to develop and practice skills, they become more curious about things they can reach for, songs and voices they can listen to, and colors and shapes they can begin to distinguish and differentiate,” says Donna Housman, Ed.D., a clinical psychologist and CEO of the Housman Institute in Newton Centre, Massachusetts.
Great toys for 4-month-olds also help you and your little one play together, especially during tummy time. “Four months is the time to look for toys that encourage increased interaction between you and your baby,” adds Sarah Lytle, Ph.D, executive director of Playful Learning Landscapes Action Network.
There are millions of toys to choose from, which makes uncovering those that are educational, stimulating and just plain fun to play with tricky for parents. To pull together this list of the best toys for 4-month-olds, I started by considering around 50 toys that were advertised as being age-appropriate for babies 4 months and older; because I have two sons (now 2 and 5) and have tested many toys personally and as a former parenting editor, I also considered toys that I had used myself.
Next, I interviewed experts to get a better sense of what to look for (and avoid) in toys for 4-month-olds. I spoke to Dr. Housman and Dr. Lytle, as well as Sanam Hafeez, PsyD., a neuropsychologist in New York City; and Micah Resnick, M.D., a board-certified pediatrician in Cincinnati, Ohio, with TriHealth and member of the What to Expect Medical Review Board. These four experts shared valuable insights about toy features such as safety, longevity and size, as well as more information about the developmental milestones 4-month-olds are working on. In addition to expert interviews, I referenced information on toy buying safely from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Finally, I rounded out the list with toys recommended by the What to Expect community and their 4-month-olds. I made sure all of their suggestions matched our experts’ guidance, met safety requirements and received glowing reviews on message boards.
What to Expect is the world’s most trusted pregnancy and parenting brand for a reason. Our product recommendations are based on expert parent insight, advice from medical professionals and feedback from the millions of parents and parents-to-be in our community. Our editors adhere to the highest research and reporting standards and our team of vetted OB/GYNs, pediatricians and other health professionals ensure our recommended products are safe and effective for you and your baby.
Buying Options
Amazon $16.99
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Weight: 13 ounces
Dimensions: 4 x 11 x 15 inches
Why We Love It
This multi-textured Melissa & Doug toy provides plenty of stimulation for infants who are just learning how to grasp things and explore textures. The crinkle sound tickles other senses, since it provides a satisfying noise that teaches baby about cause and effect. As your 4-month-old gets older and their fine motor skills improve, they’ll love the reward of finding hidden photos tucked under each scale. You’ll love to watch baby play, no doubt, but you might love the fact that the whole thing is machine-washable even more.
Photo credit: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon $21.99
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Weight: 5.3 ounces
Dimensions: 12.76 x 8.39 x 2.28 inches
Why We Love It
At this age, babies are just discovering the world around them, which makes them particularly stimulated by both texture and sound. This toy satisfies both, as it comes with an assortment of soft scarves and crinkle pads for baby to manipulate and explore. It’s a great option because it grows with your child, too. Once your little one is older, they’ll delight in learning about cause and effect by stuffing the included plush "tissue box" with the fabric before pulling each one out.
Buying Options
Amazon $8.98
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Weight: 3.52 ounces (all three)
Dimensions: 5.94 x 4.09 x 0.67 inches
Why We Love It
At this age, babies put pretty much everything in their mouths, so silicone shapes they can safely chew are a great toy choice, Dr. Housman says. “Try freezable shapes or rings to soothe teething babies and add another sensory element to their play,” she recommends. This three-pack of Y-shaped teether tubes let your little one do just that: They’re designed to be easy for little hands to hold, covered with different textures to massage baby’s gums and relatively simple to clean, since they can be put in the top rack of your dishwasher. (Just make sure to use the included cleaning brush to de-gunk the hollow insides.)
Photo credit: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon $19
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Weight: 4.9 ounces
Dimensions: 22.4 x 4.33 x 3.15 inches
Why We Love It
This fun and interactive toy is a great musical option for 4-month-old babies. When your little one squeezes its head, the plush toy lights up in a variety of colors and patterns — great for visual development. Each section of the caterpillar’s body does something different, so baby will have fun exploring surprises like bells, squeaks, rustling and more. Just note that the toy might be larger than it looks — it’s nearly 2 feet long! The benefit to this, however, is that the underside of the caterpillar has measurements in both feet and meters, so caregivers can simultaneously keep track of baby’s growth. (Also great for those milestone photos!)
Buying Options
Amazon $9.99
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Weight: 7.2 ounces
Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches (per block)
Why We Love It
With soft blocks like these, you can place one in front of baby during tummy time so they have something to reach for, pass one back and forth to practice taking turns or show your little one how to build with them (though they won't be ready to try that solo just yet). These blocks feature brightly-colored images or interesting black-and-white patterns (which are easier for younger babies to see) on all sides. Plus, a few have lift-the-flaps and mirrors, while others jingle when you shake them, adding an additional sensory element to playtime.
Buying Options
Amazon $17.99
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Power: 3 AA batteries required (included)
Weight: 12 ounces
Dimensions: 7.48 x 5.91 x 3.54 inches
Why We Love It
This adorable plush toy is TikTok famous for a reason: Parents swear the Fisher-Price calming puppy almost instantly soothes babies, whether they’re suffering from gas or struggling to sleep. The adorable stuffie is made of a super soft, cuddly fabric and plays calming music while emitting soft vibrations to lull your little one to bed. After 10 minutes, the music (fully adjustable volume controls for the win!) times out, so you won’t have to tip-toe back into baby’s room to turn it off. Another plus for parents: It’s fully machine-washable (just don’t forget to remove the batteries first).
Buying Options
Amazon $8.99
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Power: 3 LR44 alkaline batteries required (included)
Weight: 4.5 ounces
Dimensions: 2 x 3.7 x 7 inches
Why We Love It
At 4 months, babies are starting to understand cause and effect, notes Dr. Lytle, and a rattle is a fun way to teach that to them. "They learn that if I shake this, I make a noise; it teaches them that they have power over it," she says. This VTech rattle is easy for tiny hands to grasp. When your baby shakes it, the puppy’s heart lights up to grab their attention. Additionally, it has crinkly legs for tactile stimulation, and your baby can fidget with the textured ring. The toy also plays phrases, sounds and songs with the touch of a button. But if the added noise becomes too much, you can easily turn off those features.
Photo credit: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon $8.99
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Weight: 10.2 ounces
Dimensions: 5.91 x 7.48 x 6.5 inches
Why We Love It
With so many places to grab, even a baby as young as 4 months old has a fair shot at picking up this fun interactive ball. They’ll love to shake, shake, shake while listening to the rainfall sounds of the internal rattle. For more interactive play, you can use the ball to slowly roll it away from your baby, encouraging them to look up during tummy time and, eventually, start to crawl towards it.
Buying Options
Amazon $42.99
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Weight limit: 25 pounds
Weight: 4.41 pounds
Dimensions: 8.27 x 10.43 x 8.66 inches
Why We Love It
Baby won’t be sitting up on their own for another few months, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t eager to see the world from a different vantage point.
The Fisher-Price Sit-Me-Up Floor Seat is less constricting than a bouncer and comfortably holds baby up to better interact with the world around them. It has two attached toys: a turtle spinner with a mirrored side and clackers. Parents love that the seat folds flat for easy storage and that the cover is removable and machine washable. It also comes in a few different patterns and styles. Just keep in mind that you should only use this seat with a child who is able to hold their head up without assistance and can’t climb out of it.
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Lovevery $80
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Why We Love It
The wildly popular Montessori-inspired Lovevery subscription service has a box perfectly suited for your 4-month-old. Each box (which is delivered every two months or so) includes an impressive 10 toys and books designed by child experts for your baby’s exact developmental stage, as well as a play guide that’ll help you use each item to its full potential. It’s worth noting the toys are all of superior quality, constructed with durable wood, silicone and other eco-friendly, safe materials, making it well worth the splurge.
Buying Options
Amazon $15.95
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Weight: 9.9 ounces
Dimensions: 8.07 x 2.76 x 9.05 inches
Why We Love It
“Be on the lookout for toys that produce movement and create sound,” says Dr. Housman. And this sweet light-up hedgehog does both, helping to activate multiple senses: In addition to the lights and bright colors, it plays music and has soft, crinkly fabric your baby can touch, manipulate and chew. Parents appreciate that the music it plays is blissfully non-annoying (in fact, some say the sounds are actually pretty relaxing) and that the clip makes it easy to attach to a stroller. It does look a little complicated, but it’s easier to clean than you might think — the fabric part twists off and can go in the washing machine. Batteries are included, too.
Buying Options
Amazon $10.29
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Weight: 6 ounces
Dimensions: 7 x 11 inches
Why We Love It
“Tummy time is so helpful when it comes to providing babies with opportunities to lift their heads and bodies,” says Dr. Housman. A baby-safe mirror is an excellent way to engage your 4-month-old while practicing tummy time. This Bright Starts mirror will motivate baby to lift their head higher and longer: When expanded, it’s perfectly angled to allow your little one to see themself, and it also folds flat for easy storage. Plus, the crinkly leaves offer an additional opportunity for tactile play. Meanwhile, you’ll appreciate that this toy works both fine and gross motor skills without requiring the assistance of batteries.
Buying Options
Amazon $8.88
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Power: 2 AA alkaline batteries required (included)
Weight: 5.6 ounces
Dimensions: 5.1 x 1 x 5.1 inches
Why We Love It
Unlike some musical toys that produce cloying, annoying sounds, this Baby Einstein toy plays seven soothing classical symphonies — Mozart, Chopin, Vivaldi! — in short, baby-friendly clips. (Parents particularly love that they can control the volume so it never gets too loud.) You can skip to the next song by using the easy-to-press button at the center, which causes colors to light up the screen. The handle also offers an opportunity for play with four toggle beads. Then, once your baby is older, they can easily carry the radio-like toy from room to room.
Buying Options
Amazon $6.59
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Weight: 4.2 ounces
Dimensions: 3.94 x 5.12 x 5.12 inches
Why We Love It
Most pediatricians won’t recommend your little one start solid foods until closer to the 6-month mark, but you can introduce this clever sticky spinner toy now, then continue to use it in the high chair later. Your 4-month-old will enjoy batting and spinning the colorful loops (they’re bright and engaging, helping teach cause-and-effect by making a rattling sound when they spin) while propped up in your lap. They can continue to play with it over the next few months when transitioning to a high chair for feedings. The suction cup makes it nearly impossible to be knocked off (and you to fetch!).
Buying Options
Amazon $24.99
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Weight: 1.32 pounds
Dimensions: 2.83 x 19.92 x 12.38 inches
Why We Love It
For some 4-month-olds, being strapped into a stroller or high chair can be pretty boring. Avoid any potential meltdowns with this colorful, attachable Tiny Love stroller arch. Baby can swat at the mini hanging toys, including a smiling bumblebee and a petite carrot. It also features a rattling ball with a crinkly texture. Parents love that the universal clip means you put this pretty much anywhere, but if you do choose to attach it to a car seat, it should be removed when you’re driving.
Buying Options
Amazon $14.99
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Power: 2 AAA batteries required (included)
Weight: 14.4 ounces
Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.8 x 6.5 inches
Why We Love It
This cute VTech musical cow is destined to become your baby’s best friend. The plush toy is made up of different fabrics, like silky satin and textured terry, in bright colors and patterns that will delight the senses. The cow's neck has a ring toy with two buttons that, when pushed, play songs and phrases that introduce numbers, letters, shapes and colors. It also has an automatic shutoff to preserve battery life (and your sanity).
Buying Options
Amazon $39.88
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Power: 3 AA batteries required (included)
Weight: 3.8 pounds
Dimensions: 27.01 x 36.02 x 17.99 inches
Why We Love It
Your 4-month-old is still perfecting tummy time skills and will continue to need extra stimulation to stay down there. This kick-and-play piano will hold their attention enough that they won’t even notice they’re on their belly. The mat has four cute dangling animal toys for baby to bat and reach for, as well as a baby-friendly mirror. The main attraction, however, is the five-key piano that your little one can play by kicking with their feet or hitting with their hands. Better yet, the piano is detachable, so you can take it with you or that baby can use it as a seated toy once that milestone is reached.
Buying Options
Amazon $9.99
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Weight: 3.2 ounces
Dimensions: 5 x 3.5 x 4 inches
Why We Love It
Though it's a teether, this ball-like toy (which is a top-seller!) provides plenty of engagement for babies at various developmental stages. The rigid loops are easy for your little one to grasp while they chew, and you can even put it in the fridge for a cooling sensation when they bite down.
In addition to soothing gums, this teether is made up of interconnected tubes that are fun for babies to explore. It’s the type of ball that helps work on hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, says Dr. Hafeez. It also has a rattle-like center that makes noise as baby shakes it about. To clean it, wash it with soap and water (just don’t submerge it or put it in the dishwasher).
Buying Options
Amazon $6.15
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Weight: 6.7 ounces
Dimensions: 6.5 x 2.5 x 7.25 inches
Why We Love It
According to the AAP, very young babies don’t need bath toys — the feel of the water is stimulating enough. But as your little one grows, containers, floating toys and waterproof books can further enhance the experience and distract your little while you wipe them down. The Munchkin Float and Play Bubbles Bath Toy includes four easy-to-grasp balls that rattle, bobble, spin and shine. Baby will love shaking them about in the water and, as they get more mobile and stable, chasing each around the tub. Parents love that they’re easy to dry and clean — key for a toy that gets wet, since you don’t want to risk mold growth.
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Amazon $16
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Weight: 2.72 ounces
Dimensions: 5 x 2 x 8 inches
Why We Love It
For fun on the go, you can’t beat this high-contrast activity toy, which features BPA-free teether, clutching ring with bead rattle, hidden squeaker, crinkle paper and a small baby-safe mirror. The mobile-like clip has both high-contrast black-and-white images, which are best for younger infants to see, as well as other areas with bright color images to keep older babies engaged.
Buying Options
Amazon $22.99
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Weight: 5.6 ounces
Dimensions: 2.25 x 2 x 5 inches
Why We Love It
Soft wind-up toys are great for babies, Dr. Housman says, and she recommends these Melissa & Doug K's Kids Pull-Back cars. It will be some time until your little one is able to independently make them roll forward (they move when you pull them back), but that’s also the beauty of this toy. Unlike other baby toys, this is one that your 4-month-old will enjoy as much now (you can show how the cars roll across the floor, and they’ll enjoy touching the wheels and soft, durable fabric) as they will into toddlerhood.
Buying Options
Amazon $12.99
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Weight: 1.76 ounces
Dimensions: 5.91 x 1.97 x 1.18 inches
Why We Love It
It’s never too early to start reading to your child. (In fact, reading to babies in infancy has been shown to give them a lasting literary boost, according to research from the AAP.) Regular board books are wonderful,but if you’d like to introduce books that also double as toys, Dr. Housman recommends these animal-themed stories. Each of the soft cloth books (choose from jungle, farm or rainforest animals) has interactive elements like crinkly pages, squeakers and different textures to help keep babies extra engaged. Parents also appreciate the streamlined size, which is great for travel.
Buying Options
Amazon $5.98
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Weight: 2.11 ounces
Dimensions: 1.5 x 4 x 4.25 inches
Why We Love It
When it comes to benefits for 4-month-olds, the Baby Einstein Tiny Tambourine pulls double duty: It’s a fun musical toy that helps little ones start to understand cause and effect (When I shake this, it makes this noise!) and is also designed to help encourage grasping, a skill babies are starting to work on at this age, according to Dr. Resnick. The rattle is ultra-lightweight and has a slim handle, so even the smallest hands can tightly hold on while shaking away. It’s also safe for babies to gnaw on (because gnaw they will) — the metal tambourine is safely enclosed behind plastic.
Photo credit: Amazon
Buying Options
Amazon $24.70
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Weight: 5.6 ounces
Dimensions: 2.25 x 2 x 5 inches
Why We Love It
The SmartNoggin rattle is much more than just a rattle. Baby can grab and shake it to make gentle noises, touch the handle to feel new and interesting textures, watch the light-up ball on the top, and stare at himself in the mirror on the base. It’s the perfect size for tiny hands, and it’s easy to stash in your diaper bag for on-the-go fun. Because there aren’t tons of grooves, you can easily wipe it down when playtime is over. The toy even comes with a pamphlet for parents, so you can maximize learning.
Before you purchase toys for a 4-month-old, take these factors into consideration:
Target $20
Kohls $20
Walmart $10